2025 Major League Baseball Thread

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by NavsterKing

you seriously believe that? i don't even think its a question that NBA is no where close to the MLB in terms of popularity...

During the 90's, the NBA was America's sport. Then the lockout and lousy overall play knocked it down while baseball has passed it.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

During the 90's, the NBA was America's sport. Then the lockout and lousy overall play knocked it down while baseball has passed it.

No, the strike had little to nothing to do with it. The MLB strike lasted far longer and did much more damage to baseball than the NBA strike did to basketball. The decline in NBA popularity had much more to do with Jordan retiring in 1998 than the 1999 strike. It was futher diminished by the decline of teams like the Knicks and Bulls and the rise of defensive dominated, boring style of basketball perfected by teams like the Spurs who few cared to watch.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by toef

I think they go something like

NFL
<gap>
MLB
<smaller gap>
NBA
<gap>
NHL

I agree with that almost 100% Only between NFL and MLB it should say <big gap>. Hell, 26 million people watched the Sunday Night NFL game of the week this past Sunday. Baseball or Basketball can't come anywhere close to that in post-season TV ratings much less regular season.

[toef]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

I agree with that almost 100% Only between NFL and MLB it should say <big gap>. Hell, 26 million people watched the Sunday Night NFL game of the week this past Sunday. Baseball or Basketball can't come anywhere close to that in post-season TV ratings much less regular season.

I mostly only watch football and baseball, although I sometimes feel like I'm getting tired of sports in general. I don't watch basketball at all because of the scoring system (which they can't do anything about). I like March Madness, but I rarely watch any of the 1st half of any game. And even the last minute of a game should be exciting (if it's a close game), but that last 60 seconds could end up taking 15 minutes, which is kind of annoying.

I've recently started getting into hockey more, but I'm surprised at just how terrible some of the TV presentation is. I was watching a Rangers game a week or two ago, and it seemed like the show was put on by a bunch of amateurs. They were stumbling their way through replays. The guy in the truck didn't even cue up the replay properly. It was kind of strange. And then there's only so much they can do with hockey on TV, because of the speed of the game, and the restricted camera angles (not to mention the dim lighting in most arenas, it seems). It won't stop me from watching, but it definitely makes the NHL feel like it doesn't even come close to being in the same league as the other major sports.

[toef]

I posted a thread about it in the PS3 section, but for anyone that plays video games, the first info and screens for MLB: The Show '11 were released. The Giants got a bit of a makeover, here's one screen:



As I get older, I spend less and less time playing games, but I still somehow dump a lot of time into this series.

[Batman1980]

Andy Pettitte's friend told Jon Heyman of SI.com Wednesday that the veteran left-hander is not going to accept a "lowball" offer.
Pettitte, if actually planning to return, was smart to wait out Cliff Lee's decision. The Yankees are now desperate for quality starting pitching and are not expected to try a reunion with Carl Pavano. Pettitte, 38, went 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 21 starts this past season. Dec. 15 - 8:34 pm et

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...310489&id=2021

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by toef

I posted a thread about it in the PS3 section, but for anyone that plays video games, the first info and screens for MLB: The Show '11 were released. The Giants got a bit of a makeover, here's one screen:

As I get older, I spend less and less time playing games, but I still somehow dump a lot of time into this series.

Is there an option to remove that stupid beard?

[Batman1980]

MLB.com's Peter Gammons reports that the White Sox have reached a three-year, $13 million deal with free agent reliever Jesse Crain.
This may be the winter of the setup man. Scott Downs got a three-year, $15 million contract from the Angels just a short time ago and Joaquin Benoit landed three years and $16.5 million at the start of the hot stove season. Crain had a solid 2010, registering a smooth 3.04 ERA along with a 62/27 K/BB ratio for the Twins. He may get a chance at saving games in Chicago. Dec. 15 - 8:54 pm et

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...310468&id=3818

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...310468&id=3818

Tough luck, the Twins lose two pretty good bullpen pieces today. Although both were seriously overpaid.

[Batman1980]

We also lost JJ Hardy and might lose Carl Pavano, right now all signs indicate that the White Sox will win the division next year instead of us.

[fatediesel]

On his radio show yesterday ESPN's Colin Cowherd had an explanation for AJ Burnett's struggles last season, saying it was because he was going through "the worst divorce in the history of divorces." There's only one problem with that explanation, Burnett was not in the process, nor ever has been in the process of getting divorced. Cowherd opened today's show with an apology to Burnett and took full blame for the mistake.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010...talking-about/

[toef]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

On his radio show yesterday ESPN's Colin Cowherd had an explanation for AJ Burnett's struggles last season, saying it was because he was going through "the worst divorce in the history of divorces." There's only one problem with that explanation, Burnett was not in the process, nor ever has been in the process of getting divorced. Cowherd opened today's show with an apology to Burnett and took full blame for the mistake.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2010...talking-about/

Apparently Burnett's reps were saying they might sue Cowherd. Hopefully the apology covers things, and the story is over.

~~~

The Yankees and Rays are both interested in Bobby Jenks. According to Heyman from SI, he wants "closer money" of about $8 million per year. The Yankees have more money than the Rays, but the Rays need a closer, and the Yankees wouldn't want to spend that much money on a set-up man.

[Batman1980]

Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Twins are close to signing Tsuyoshi Nishioka to a three-year contract with an option for a fourth year.
Heyman writes that Nishioka will be guaranteed "in the neighborhood" of $10 million. Including their $5 million posting fee, the Twins will have spent approximately $15 million in order to sign him. The 26-year-old is a bit of an unknown quantity coming from Japan, but it's hard to get too worked up about these terms. Dec. 16 - 10:03 am et

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...310504&id=6495

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

No, the strike had little to nothing to do with it. The MLB strike lasted far longer and did much more damage to baseball than the NBA strike did to basketball. The decline in NBA popularity had much more to do with Jordan retiring in 1998 than the 1999 strike. It was futher diminished by the decline of teams like the Knicks and Bulls and the rise of defensive dominated, boring style of basketball perfected by teams like the Spurs who few cared to watch.

You forget the amount of sloppy play overall in the league.

[Batman1980]

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that a physical exam with the Yankees revealed that Russell Martin needs knee surgery.
The good news is that the procedure is considered relatively minor -- they wouldn't have went ahead with the signing if it was deemed serious -- and he is expected to be ready for spring training. Still, this is troubling for someone who is coming off a fractured hip and two mediocre seasons at the plate. Dec. 16 - 12:38 pm et

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...=310497&id=105

[Wingman1977]

Originally Posted by toef

I posted a thread about it in the PS3 section, but for anyone that plays video games, the first info and screens for MLB: The Show '11 were released. The Giants got a bit of a makeover, here's one screen:



As I get older, I spend less and less time playing games, but I still somehow dump a lot of time into this series.

I just hope the use a new engine because the current one (from the last 2 yrs plus) is starting to look dated (that pic is giving me hope though).

[Beefbowl]

2010 World Series on blu-ray is $14.99 @ Amazon.

[toef]

Originally Posted by Gandalf Stormcrow

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...=310497&id=105

I always found it odd when reports said a deal was "pending a physical" as if they were suddenly going to find something wrong with a person that wasn't previously known. How does a guy not know he needs knee surgery?

Originally Posted by Wingman1977

I just hope the use a new engine because the current one (from the last 2 yrs plus) is starting to look dated (that pic is giving me hope though).

I think the graphics have looked pretty good over the years (though the biggest change came between 07 and 08, the 1st and 2nd versions on PS3).

Physics-wise I used to wish they'd add collisions into the game, but last year when '10 was coming out, one of the developers explained why it wasn't possible. I don't remember exactly why, but I remember it sounding reasonable at the time.

Overall, based on the other screens released, it doesn't really look like they're changing much graphically this year (unless you count adding rain, or stadium-specific jumbotron animations). Click the spoiler for the rest of the screens I posted in the other thread.

[Show spoiler]

[Hi-Def Steve]

Originally Posted by toef

I always found it odd when reports said a deal was "pending a physical" as if they were suddenly going to find something wrong with a person that wasn't previously known. How does a guy not know he needs knee surgery?

The Yankees must be really banking on a perceived upside to this guy. How do bad knees and a bad hip next year help you?

[Batman1980]

According to Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, the Yankees are "getting close" on Pedro Feliciano.
The rubber-armed left-hander has also drawn interest from the Red Sox and Phillies, among others. Feliciano, 34, posted a 3.30 ERA and 56/30 K/BB ratio over 62 2/3 innings with the Mets this past season and has led the league in appearances for the last three seasons. He has held left-handed batters to a .214/.282/.297 batting line for his career. Dec. 16 - 10:22 am et

Source - http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pla...&rwr=1&id=3534